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Chapter Forty-four
Rylee’s worst nightmare was watching Jake push through the door, thinking to save her and end up being the victim. In fact, she had no doubt at all, they’d both be killed.
She prayed that Carl could stop him. Every so often, when she felt as if eyes were watching, as she knew they would be, she winked to let them know she was fine.
Not that there wasn’t discomfort. It wasn’t fun being bound with plastic pulls to the arms and legs of a chair, especially when the wound on her arm throbbed like a son of a bitch.
But that was the least of her worries. The certainty that Jake would be willing to give himself over to save her life kept insanity looming all night. Though she dozed, her awareness was at an all-time high. She watched every movement made in the room as the guard at the door took his turn at Hakim’s table to be replaced with the other man.
When he passed her, the slap across her head was expected. He was still pissed that she’d gotten the best of him. If he hadn’t of fallen on his gun, she’d have him in custody, not the other way around. And that still rankled with the man who held women in such low esteem.
Bastard! She should have shot him. Too bad his bullet struck first, and hers went astray.
The rest of the night they spent taking turns to guard, chattering in their own language or slumped across the lounger and chairs, sleeping. As expected, Hakim retired to the bedroom for comfort.
Rylee knew that Carl would be getting most of their discussion translated. The only portion he would miss was their constant sharing of the map and making notations. At times they over-talked each other also and that would be difficult to record, and it was those times they argued excitably.
In the morning, she watched as they produced a sari for her to wear. One that Hakim said he’d bought for his wife, a beautiful garment of bright pinks and purples, with gold trim. The shawl portion, he made her wear over her head and face. Obviously, the way he intended to get her ashore without any discussion.
They forced her into the bathroom, making sure the door stayed open. Then they demanded she dress as they instructed, Hakim being the one who had the most to say.
“We know about the boy, Miguel. We’ve had eyes on you, and we know he’s not a legal passenger. Therefore, you have a choice. Either do as we say, or I will have the authorities waiting for him in Grenada. And I have no doubt; they’ll imprison him for breaking the law. Which will be on you.”
“Just leave the kid out of this. It’s not his battle.”
“It isn’t yours either. I have no intention of hurting you. If… you do as I say. You and the boy can go free. It’s Mr. Andrews who I have a score to settle with.”
“Because he shot your brother.”
Hakim looked stunned that she knew the circumstances. “Yes. That is true. First Azmi became paralyzed, and he never regained strength before he died.”
“Except Jake didn’t mean for the bullet to hit him. One of your men was aiming at Leo, his partner, and Jake pushed the gun away. It discharged and the bullet hit your brother. If anyone’s to blame, it’s the man with his finger on the trigger.”
“True, and he paid for his mistake. He rests with Allah now. But Jake needs to pay also.”
“That’s insane. It was your brother and his thugs who attacked Jake’s partner. He was only doing what any one of you would do to help a friend.”
“Enough of this chatter, woman.” Hakim’s eyes shot venom and his dislike of her refusal to show deference had reached its limit. “Do as I say, or I’ll let Jamal teach you a lesson you won’t enjoy. You will come with us now, and don’t be foolish. If you do, you will regret it, do you understand?”
Rylee nodded and followed instructions. While imprisoned, she’d worked out all the details of how she figured things would go down. She knew that Carl and Jake were listening to every word being uttered in the cabin.
Therefore, they would have a pretty good idea of the plans being made. Carl would have hooked the Bureau up to the sound system so every word spoken in their strange language could be translated.
With today’s technology, it’s a simple procedure. He would have notified Harrison, who’ll have men in place to work with Carl. She just had to keep Hakim calm and none the wiser, and they could all walk away safely.
Finally, they were ready to leave. Rylee, with the sheer purple silk across her face under her eyes, walked with them expecting to go towards the end of the ship where she knew they normally disembarked.
What the hell?
Instead, they were leading her in a different direction, to an area on the ship where passengers would have a boat waiting to pick them up.
She began to struggle, realizing that all the plans she’d expected Carl to set in place would be ruined. They’d be watching for them to alight at the dock with the other passengers.
Jesus, she couldn’t catch a break. Her exertion was short-lived when Hakim jabbed the gun into her ribs and whispered, anger visible in the curt way he commanded, “Stop it! Or I swear on my brother’s name, I will kill the first innocent I see. Do not underestimate my determination, Rylee.”
